Temporary door and method



Dec. 21, 1965 w BRUNlNG 3,224,496

TEMPORARY DOOR AND METHOD Filed March 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 21, 1965 w. E. BRUNING TEMPORARY DOOR AND METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1962 JZz/mipr walla/2020 250 v 50 z 7 12 afiigp United States Patent 3,224,496 TEMPDRARY DOOR AND METHOD Wiliiam E. Brnning, Omaha, Nehru, assignor of one-half to International Paper Company, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of New York, and one-half to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,894 3 tilaims. (Cl. 160-368) This invention relates to a temporary door and method, and, more particularly, to a panel-type door uniquely foldable on itself for closing the doorway of a freight vehicle.

The inventive door closure finds utility in connection with the temporary barricading of the doorways of graincarrying boxcars. In the past, there has been difiiculty experienced with the installation of these temporary doors which are necessary to prevent the outflow of grain, particularly during the filling operation. It will be apprecia-ted that the sliding storm doors with which the boxcar is equipped are inadequate to do this, since they open by a horizontal movement and thus expose the entire height of the doorway.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel door and method of installation in the environment mentioned above that is particularly advantageous in connection with the use of swivel loaders for filling a grain-carrying boxcar.

Another object is to provide a novel door having a uniquely folded feature which eliminates the disadvantageous supplement-a1 framing normally used in connection with grain door installations.

Other objects and advantages of this invention may be seen in the details of construction and operation set down in this specification.

The invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of a freight car equipped with a closure embodying teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view such as would be seen along the line 22 applied to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertical sectional view such as would be seen along the sight line 33 applied to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of one form of blank or panel used advantageously in the practice of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but of a modified form of panel;

FIGS. 6l0 are schematic representations of the panel of FIG. 4 during the course of its installation in the environment seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of door closure and which embodies teachings of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view of the blank or panel from which the closure of FIG. 11 is constructed;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view such as would be seen along the sight line 1313 of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view such as would be seen along the sight line 1414 applied to FIG. 11.

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the numeral 20 designates generally a freight vehicle such as a boxcar suitable for the transportation of granular material. The car 20 is equipped with a floor 21 and vertical doorway framing posts 22 and 23 defining a doorway 24. Installed across the doorway and extending upwardly from the floor 21 is a closure generally designated 25 which embodies teachings of this invention. The closure 25 is installed across the inside of the doorway, being secured to the inside faces of the vertical framing posts 22 and 23.

A preferred form of panel for developing the closure 25 is designated by the numeral 26 and is seen in FIG. 5. The panel 26 is seen to be scored or weakened along a plurality of horizontal lines as at 27, 28 and 29. The portion 30 bet-ween the lower edge 31 and the score line 29 which extends parallel thereto, is adapted to provide the floor flap 30a so designated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 9. This much is conventional, as is the basic construction of the panel 26, as can be seen from FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, the panel 26 is seen to be made up of an inner liner 32, a corrugated core 32a having the flutes thereof extending vertically, and an outer liner 32b. Interpositioned between the outer liner 32b and the corrugated core 32a are a plurality of fiat sheet metal straps 35.

The utility and function of the fold lines 27 and 28 can be best appreciated from a consideration of the sequence of manipulations set forth in FIGS. 6-10', and reference will be had thereto.

Initially, the panel 26 is installed in the doorway 24 in the form seen in FIG. 6, wherein the upper portion 26a is positioned exteriorly of the car 20. In other words, the portion 27a lying between the fold lines 27 and 28 is generally horizontally disposed and has a thickness corresponding to the width of the doorway framing posts 22 and 23. This permits the filling of the car 20 through the use of a swivel loader, which is normally limited in the height in which it can operate. After the car 20 has been filled with grain, the panel 26 is converted from its FIG. 7 configuration through that shown in FIG. 8 to that seen in FIG. 10, the final configuration being that presented in perspective form in FIG. 9.

In this connection, it will be noted that the panel 26 is transversely severed along the lines 27 and 28 as at 32 in FIGS. 4 and 5 to yield the advantageous manipulations depicted in FIGS. 6-10. In this connection, it is believed that specific examples of dimensions will be helpful for understanding the invention, and, for that purpose, the following is set down.

The lines of severance at 32 ordinarily are spaced six inches apart to accommodate the horizontal width of the doorway framing posts 22 and 23. The length of the lines of severance 32 is determined by the width of the side flap portion 33 which are defined by vertical scoring lines as at 34 extending parallel to, but spaced from, corresponding vertical side edges 36. The side flaps 33 are ordinarily nine inches wide on doorways measuring across, and 15" wide on the wider doors, which are usually 114 or 138" The width of the floor flap 30a is also 6". In other words, the fold line 29 is spaced 6" above the lower edge 31 of the panel 26. The distance between the lines 28 and 29 is determined by the distance the swivel loader will clear over the sill or fioor 21 of the boxcar.

The overall height of the panel, when installed as the closure 25, is determined by the loaded height of material in the doorway of the car, usually in standard dimensions of 30, 36, 42, and 54 inches.

In operation, the door panel 26 is initially installed as depicted in FIG. 6, where first the lower portion 33a of the side flaps 33 are folded inwardly to expose the ends of the straps 35 for nailing to the framing posts 22 and 23. For this purpose, there is a line of severance as at 36a to permit folding of the side flaps or wings 33 when the floor flap 30a is positioned against the floor 21.

At the conclusion of the loading operation performed by the swivel loader (not shown), the upper portions 33b (see FIG. 6) of the side flaps or wings 33 are folded along the lines 34 to the condition previously occupied by the flap portions 32a as seen in FIG. 6. This permits the portion 33b to clear the side posts 22 and 23 as the upper portion of the panel 26 is brought inside the freight car. This operation is designated schematically in FIG, 8, where the upper portion 33b is seen in the stage of being introduced into the car 20, the portion 27a already having been folded inwardly of the car. Ultimately, the upper portion 26a is brought into parallel relationship with the lower portion 26b, as seen in FIG. 10this parallel relationship necessarily including an overlapping relationship, as is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 9.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the panel closure generally designated 25 is equipped with in-folded side flaps 33, the conventional climb-board 38, and pryboard 39, extending parallel to the overlapped portion generally designated 37.

The overlapped portion 37 additionally provides an advantageous bolster intermediate the height of the closure 25, thereby reducing the stress applied to the horizontallyextending sheet steel straps 35. It will also be noted that the lines of severance at 32 do not provide avenues for the escape or seepage of grain since in each case there is an overlapping unslit or unsevered portion of the panel 26. As can be seen from FIG. 9, the slit 28 is overlaid by the wing portion 33b, while the slit 27 is in overlapping relation with the wing portion 33a.

Another advantage can be derived through the unique folding operation set forth above, and this is described in conjunction with FIGS. 11-14 on the second drawing sheet.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the numeral 125 designates generally a closure installed across the doorway 124 defined by framing posts 122 and 123, the car generally designated 120 additionally being equipped with a fioor 121.

The basic construction of the closure 125 is as before an inner liner 132 is adhesively bonded to a corrugated core 132a, as is an outer liner 132b, flat straps 135 being confined between the outer liner 132k and the corrugated core 132. There is also a floor flap portion 130a defined between the lower edge 131 and a line of weakness or scoring 129 extending parallel to, but spaced from, the lower edge 131. The basic panel defined by vertical edges 136, the lower edge 131, and the top edge 136a is essentially rectangular in outline. Extending sidewardly from the edges 136 and integral therewith, are wings or side flaps 133 (see FIG. 12). The flaps 133, when the closure 125 is installed as in FIG. 11, are folded inwardly, as designated by the numerals 133 applied to FIG. 11. In this condition, the outer liner 13211 is severed in positions aligned with the edges of the straps 135, as can be appreciated from the inwardly-turned face of the wings 133 in FIG. 11. The straps 135, at the ends thereof, are suitably anchored by means of nails or other securing means to the door posts 122 and 123.

Along the upper edge 136a, the panel 126 is equipped with another wing or flap 138a, which is reinforced by a climb-board 138 (see FIG. 13). The flap 138:: is developed by the scoring line 138b provided in the outer liner 13212.

A reinforcing member is provided for the floor flap 130a in the form of a flat metal strap 130k analogous to the straps 135 provided in the main body or verticallyextending portion of the panel 126.

Advantageously, the side flaps 133 may be equipped with a reinforcing member 133a (see FIG. 14).

The lower portion providing the pry-board 139 is developed by providing lines of weakness or scoring as at 128 and 127, wherein the panel 126 may be advantageously folded on itself horizontally to develop the overlapped portion 137. For this purpose, the reinforcing member 139 providing the pry-board may be secured during manufacture to the panel 126, as also the member 138 providing the climb-board. Thus, there is no need for the carpenter or cooper installing the door to provide the framing members from a stack which might be inconveniently depleted. In the same fashion, the side reinforcing members 133a may be secured to the wings 133 during fabrication, as by stapling, gluing, stitching, 6tC.

In the manufacture of the device, the basic panel made up of the corrugated core 32a or 13211, as the case may be, is advanced continuously between the liner webs with the flat straps extending transversely of the length of the flutes of the corrugated core. The webs making up the liners and core are transversely severed along spacedapart lines to develop the basic rectangular configuration of the panel seen either in FIG. 5 or FIG. 12. In either embodiment, the outer liner is scored in the direction of Web movement, i.e., parallel to the straps, to develop the floor flap portion, the line of scoring being at 29 or 129. A spaced distance away from the line of scoring 129, the outer liner is scored as at 28 or 128, as the case may be, and simultaneously or sequentially, the inner liner is scored along a longitudinal line to develop a told at 27 or 127, as the case may be. In the specific embodiment of FIG. 12, the outer liner is scored along the line 13812 to develop the climb-board portion 138a. After the panel has been severed from the united webs, scoring may be performed along the lines 136 to develop the side flaps or wings 133.

Depending upon the particular manufacturing operation employed, the reinforcing members 138 and 139 may be installed either on the continuous web or after the panel 126 has been severed from the continuous web. The same alternative applies to the reinforcing members 133a.

In installation, the panel 126 is folded along the lines 127, 128 and 129 to develop the reinforced portion 137 and the floor flap 130a. This construction is then placed against the inside faces of the door posts 122 and 123, and with the side flaps 133 folded inwardly, the ends of the straps 135 are secured to the posts 122 and 123. Thereafter, the upper portion of the panel is folded along the score line 138 to develop the climb-board and thus is provided a complete closure equipped with suitable framing but without the need for supplemental lumber. If desired, additional closures as at 125' may be superposed to develop a multi-panel door wherein the various panels are superposed in edge-to-edge relation.

The provision of the buttressed portion 137 is advantageous during the sampling operation wherein the car is temporarily sidetracked at a grain center such as Chicago for the sale of its contents. For this to be carried on, it is necessary for the brokers to examine a sample of the grain in the car, and for this purpose an artisan known to the trade as a sampler enters the car to take a sample of the grain from various depths. Inasmuch as the sliding doors with which the boxcar is equipped are diflicult to open, it is usually necessary to utilize a pry-bar to serve as a lever to open these doors. The pry-bar is a pointed instrument which is thrust into the lower corner of the closure and which in the past has necessitated the provision of a supplemental timber, usually 1 X 6, in order to prevent the pointed end of the pry-bar from puncturing all the way through the paperboard door. With the inventive construction, it is possible to use lighter wooden members as at 139, since there is additional thickness of the door itself to serve as a supplemental bolster for the board 139.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of the invention has been set down for the purpose of explanation, many variations in the details herein given may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a sliding storm door-equipped freight vehicle having a doorway closable by said door and defi y ve tic l fr mi g posts and a floor, and a closure secured to the inside of said framing posts, said closure comprising a generally rectangular planar panel having the major portion thereof disposed in a generally vertical plane to close the lower portion of said doorway, with the vertical edges of said panel major portion being secured to said framing posts, a lower minor portion of said panel being disposed in a horizontal plane to provide a flap in contact with said fioor, said major and lower minor portions being separated by an intermediate minor portion including a reversely folded, vertically-extending panel part positioned between said major portion and said framing posts adjacent said floor to provide a pry-bar portion for opening said door.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which a horizontally disposed, elongated rigidifying member is positioned within said reversely folded panel part.

3. In combination, a sliding storm door-equipped freight vehicle having a doorway closable by said door and defined by vertical framing posts and a floor, and a closure secured to the inside of said framing posts, said closure comprising a generally rectangular planar panel having the major portion thereof disposed in a generally vertical plane to close the lower portion of said doorway, With the vertical edges of said panel major portion being secured to said framing posts, a lower minor portion of said panel being disposed in a horizontal plane to provide a flap in contact with said floor, said major and lower minor portions being separated by an intermediate minor portion including a reversely folded, vertically-extending panel part positioned between said major portion and said framing posts adjacent said floor to provide a pry-bar portion for opening said door, a horizontally disposed, elongated rigidifying member positioned within said reversely-folded panel part, said panel being epuipped with a vertical fold line adjacent to but spaced from each vertical edge, said panel being equipped with a pair of integral side flaps extending over only said major portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,689,608 9/1954 Suess -368 2,774,529 12/1956 Abrams et al. 229-33 2,797,749 7/1957 Ford et al 160-368 2,865,549 12/1958 Inman 229-33 X 2,892,497 6/1959 Pierson 160-368 2,919,060 12/1959 Daniels 229-33 2,966,213 12/1960 Ford 160-368 2,971,579 2/1961 Vv/ebster 160-368 3,025,908 3/1962 Ford et al. 160-368 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, CHARLES E. OCONNELL,

Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A SLIDING STORM DOOR-EQUIPPED FREIGHT VEHICLE HAVING A DOORWAY CLOSABLE TO SAID DOOR AND DEFINED BY VERTICAL FRAMING POSTS AND A FLOOR, AND A CLOSURE SECURED TO THE INSIDE OF SAID FRAMING POSTS, SAID CLOSURE COMPRISING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PLANAR PANEL HAVING THE MAJOR PORTION THEREOF DISPOSED IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL PLANE TO CLOSE THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID DOORWAY, WITH THE VERTICAL EDGES OF SAID PANEL MAJOR PORTION BEING SECURED TO SAID FRAMING POSTS, A LOWER MINOR PORTION OF SAID PANEL BEING DISPOSED IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE TO PROVIDE A FLAP IN CONTACT WITH SAID FLOOR, SAID MAJOR AND LOWER MINOR PORTIONS BEING SEPARATED BY AN INTERMEDIATE MINOR PORTION INCLUDING A REVERSELY FOLDED, VERTICALLY-EXTENDING PANEL PORT POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID MAJOR PORTION AND SAID FRAMING POSTS ADJACENT SAID FLOOR TO PROVIDE A PRY-BAR PORTION FOR OPENING SAID DOOR. 